15 August 2010

( studio b’s art mobile has hit the streets, literally )

studio b’s art mobile has
hit the streets, literally

by jennifer hetrick

just a few months ago, boyertown’s studio b unleashed the portable classroom that is now known as its art mobile.


( all photographs courtesy of studio b. )

this transportation-geared effort allows studio b to abandon its 39a east philadelphia avenue storefront to wheel art right to kids in a bus offered as needed by brian quigley of bally’s quigley chevrolet.


the idea of the art mobile first took shape during a conversation building a better boyertown’s arts & activities alliance committee chairperson jane stahl had with boyertown area school district’s then-new superintendent, dion betts, in january of this year.

“it became a slightly different project in its evolution,” stahl said. “we changed it from taking art and artists to schools to transforming it into a place where we could take art to children.”

about a dozen people bring their talents to the retired school bus, traveling around the area to community events, a set program at the ymca, and even birthday parties at the request of parents.

graber letterin’ handled the art mobile’s signage with original design by sue biebuyck. inside, the bus seats were removed and replaced with tables and stools for the children and artists, and containers full of creativity-inspiring supplies are loaded for each new trip and multi-faceted art lesson mingled with play-minutes.

the art mobile has already graced such scenes as prout’s jolllyview farm in oley, and in boyertown—fun days, the farmers’ market, and the health expo. 



 







bus driver anne benner is also an artist, keeping the space in the feel of a sanctuary for creation.

each themed session introduces at least four or five activities to keep kids’ attention while educating them about how to express themselves through their artwork.

one theme spans the persuasion of pablo picasso, with children testing out self-portraits, cubism, rubbing collages, and poem activities, in addition to absorbing some biographical tidbits about the spanish painter.

others follow the histories and works of classical master leonardo da vinci and more recent and brightly expressive types like andy warhol and keith haring.

a day dedicated to some asian art incorporates silk painting, chinese banners, dragons, kites, and origami.

more specifics in the mix are trash to treasure, art relative to animals, punk art, game pieces, pet rocks, potato prints, tie-dye shirts, word art, musical art, jewelry, and the hugely popular spin art.

at bug fest, an event run each summer by the boyertown farmers’ market, children made their own bugs out of styrofoam, pipe cleaners, popsicle sticks, and other crafts. art mobile teacher jean esther then drew caricatures of the kids with their freshly livened bugs.

esther shifted through several different careers including working with computers and moving furniture, but he always ended up drawing something, wherever he went.

now taking courses at the pennsylvania college of art & design, he also taught classes at goggleworks as its youngest artist and brought a following of children from the reading-based arts center when he became a part of studio b’s art mobile.

“art is an essential,” esther said. “it’s a creativity that desperately needs to stay alive in communities.”

“it’s a necessity and an outlet for a lot of kids, a confidence booster, and it brings people together,” esther said.

with the art mobile serving as a classroom on wheels, esther considers this a new experience that is more ambitious and exciting for both kids and their parents.

“it’s a great opportunity for children to become involved and learn more about themselves, exploring and expressing who they are,” stahl said.

“my daughter, jaidyn, loved having the art mobile at her birthday party,” said valerie gery of barto. 

“she told me several times since her party that she wants to have the art mobile every year for her birthday,” gery said. “it was my daughter's party, but everyone participated and left with their own masterpiece.”

“laughter and enjoyment just poured out of the bus windows,” gery concluded.

for birthday parties, instruction and play time last usually at least two hours.

the art mobile’s next appearance will be at bbb’s dog days of august, scheduled for the 21st of this month.

freebie alert ! comment on this story to enter for a chance to win a $25.00 gift certificate toward artwork or an art class at studio b. please include your e-mail address in this comment. this contest ends the 22nd of august. good luck !

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